96 Notes on some of the Temples of Kashmir. [No. 2 



outside and in, is supported on half .engaged fluted pillars, 16 T 5 ¥ feet 

 high, and 14 inches in diameter. As at Bhaumajo, the base of the 

 tympanum* is reduced to two short returns of the horizontal mouldings 

 of the pediment, each of which serves as a sort of upper abacus to the 

 pedimental pilasters. The doorway pilasters, supporting the archi- 

 trave (2J feet high, and broken through as usual in the temples of 

 Kashmir), are as high as the base of the main pilaster capitals, and 

 4£ feet higher than those of the quadrangle. Besides the doorway 

 pilasters, there are two fluted columns of the same height (including 

 a sort of second capital) and 18 J inches in diameter, one on each side 

 of the entrance, 7§ feet apart, supporting the architrave. The second 

 capital corresponds to the transverse beam of the peristyle connecting 

 the pillar with its pilaster ; but here it is detached on all sides. It 

 is cruciform,t and so projects on each side of the capital proper. 

 These columns are distant from the square doorway pilasters respec- 

 tively about one diameter. The roof of the gateway, like that of 

 the temple, has perished ; but it was evidently pyramidal, for the 

 corners of the base of the great pediments (outside and in) remain, 

 and their angles are equal to those at the base of the doorway 

 pediments. 



The basement of the gateway is approached on either side by a 

 flight of six steps J 7-f- feet wide, supported by flank walls 7f feet in 

 length, and terminating in upright stones, § each separated by an 

 interval from the main wall, and ornamented with a standing figure, 

 said by the pundits to represent a servant of Siva. 



The material of which the buildings are constructed, is a pale, 



coarse granite, of which there seems to be no quarry within reach on 



the left bank of the Jhelum. This circumstance is remarkable, 



considering the enormous size and weight of some of the stones 



employed. Mr. Drew, a geologist in the service of H. H. the 



Maharajah, thinks that the blocks of granite must have been carried 



down some of the valleys on the opposite side into the river bed, 



whence they were brought for the construction of the temple. Mortar 



has been used in all parts of the buildings. Opposite the gateway, 



* See Photograph, No. III. 



f See Photograph, No. III. and Cunningham, pp. 269-70, para. 24. 



X See Photograph, No. III. 



§ See Photograph, No. III. 



